Barren Mare

Small but annoying potatoes

I was going to tell the Tale of the Ring, as promised, but I confess I am not having the best of weeks and am not in a great frame of mind. It seems petulant to complain about the relatively minor things that are weighing me down- compared to the real problems of others, it is small potatoes. And yet, they are my small potatoes and seem in need of unloading all the same.   

Knox had his Big Important Scary Interview yesterday for his dream job, but he didn't get through to the next stage of the recruitment process. This is disappointing, to be sure but he was quite preoccupied with preparing for it for ages now, and everything else has had to temporarily take a back seat. That might not ordinarily would be not such a big deal except that there's this WEDDING and all, and I am beginning to anxiously watch the days slip by with certain key details (you know, flowers, music, how am I actually going to get to the venue in my pretty white frock) still not nailed down.

Then I feel silly because after all, it's still not entirely clear what he is going to do for a job in the same city as me and Botany and in the long run, that's more important (and scary).

The goddamn mouse is still in residence. I know I said I would stop wittering on about it so much but it's starting to really bug me that the little fucker is managing to crap absolutely everywhere and is utterly resistant to bait, traps and other cruel and unusual methods of destruction. Plus it makes me jump out of my skin every time I unthinkingly wander into the kitchen for a glass of water without turning on the light first and next thing I know there's a small gray object darting across the floor.

I'm worried about money. When I moved into this flat last year, the valuation report flagged up that the windows needed some repairs and maintenance. Since the whole experience of splitting up with E. was already so eyewateringly expensive, I halfheartedly got one quote from a company that weren't really all that interested in doing the work, and then I did nothing else about it. Turns out that original estimate was way off base, because a year and two more quotes later, I have a better idea of what it will really cost. And it's hideous. I can either stump up the cash now and be done with it, or spend the next winter shivering in the icy cold drafts wafting in with a repeat of last season's ghastly fuel bills. Unfortunately I am also spurting money from every artery on wedding related gubbins and you know, generally, the economic climate is not looking so hot just now. 

Botany's early morning wakings are maddeningly close to being something resembling manageable in that she has taken to sleeping until 6-6.30 most days. Then, just when we think we're doing better, she pulls a 5am wake up (or earlier) call for several days in a row. It's become an extremely sore point between me and Knox as to how to handle it; in fact, probably the only thing we ever argue about. In many ways I worry more about her wake ups contributing to the friction about the issue than I do about actually having to get out of bed.

There are other various and sundry tensions brewing with family members which I am not at liberty to write about for fear of discovery. But let's just say I am especially stressed about it given that I'm not sure how to resolve the issues, other than to give myself a personality transplant together with rewriting my chequered past.    

Lastly, I have a spot the size of Nebraaaaaskka on my chin. I know I should leave it Strictly Alone but I am never very good at that, plus it hurts and I find myself inadvertently clawing at it. It's so yucky that Botany has actually taken to pointing at it, or even poking it with her little finger saying, "Mummy has sore spot on chin." Yes, darling. Thank you for repeating that in front of my parents, the grocery store clerk and the nursery staff. Your verbal skills are outstanding.

Really, Botany's speech does make my jaw drop regularly these days. It's actually starting to freak me out a little. Yesterday I put a new dress on her and she said quite calmly and clearly, "take the tags off."  This kid is 22 months going on 12. And she's healthy, gorgeous and bright as a button- which, when I think about it,  makes the above complaints pale into tiny spuds of insignificance.

Peace

Ugh. I had all these grand plans of catching up with things over the holiday period; somehow I had this fuzzy notion that being off work for a couple weeks was going to help. Oh hahaha. Instead, while my sinus infection segues neatly into another ghastly chest cold, I've been in blue arse fly mode. Last minute presents! Food for dinner! Register Botany and myself at a doctor's which does not involve a 40 minute walk and/or parking nightmare! Cards- em, yeah, those! Bake something! Wrap something! Jingle around the clock!

For extra amusement value, Botany is cutting molars top and bottom, has her own cough to contend with, and at the start of the week, was in the foulest of moods. When not screaming or throwing a raging tantrum about something mystifying (cup? no cup? that other cup? the cup is too full? not full enough? what? what? what?) she clings to me like a barnacle. And happy as I am to carry her about with my increasingly buff arms, it does get a little tricky trying to do basic life stuff, never mind Christmas preparation while toting a 16 month old about. 

 Anyway- I feel I need to explain myself about this post which has upset a (now apparently former) reader. Due to the general life backlog (see above) I only just got around to reading the comment, hence the delay in responding. 

For the record, I apologise if I caused offence in any way. Evidently, I have.  My intention was certainly not to represent the period of my life during which I struggled with infertility as "halcyon" in itself. God knows it wasn't. Rather, I was referring to the community in which I experienced a tremendous amount of support and friendship, and what it was like to be blogging then, and how it changed my life forever. Even when things were at their crappest, it made a huge difference to know that there were people out there who understood. That was the halcyon part, not the circumstances that brought us there. What Pru's blog was referencing, and what I was picking up on, is that some extent, that original sense of community from that time seems to be gone- or at least profoundly changed, and I was attempting to muse on why that is. 

 I would never, for one second, wish the experience of infertility on anyone, or try to depict it as a merry lark which was delightful to go through. Never. Nor have I forgotten what it was like. My heart goes out to anyone who is still struggling. For a long time, I felt like I was last one left behind, while everyone else moved on, and there is not a day that goes by when I don't feel grateful for how things turned out for me as far as being able to be a mother to Botany. 
 
 I try to be conscious of the feelings of anyone out there who may be having an IF nightmare but still somehow tunes in to read what I have to say. Personally, I couldn't hack reading parenting blogs while I was struggling with infertility for the very reasons Jen mentioned in her comment- it does hurt like hell from the other side. No matter how gracious you might be, or how much you wish the person well. You want it to be you, goddamnit, and you sit there, aching and thinking, "Why her and not me? Why?" And it's worse on the days when you sense the recipient of such good fortune is perhaps less than grateful for what they have.  I am aware of that, really I am.

At the same time, the reality for me is that parenting, particularIy as a single mother, is really damn hard. There are days when I honestly don't know how I am going to hold it together to do everything that has to be done without having an exhausted breakdown. Yes, I desperately wanted this, and I got it, whereas others have not. And I realise that sucks. But what I am dealing with(the state of singlehood not being one of my choosing, I might add) is taking an immense toll on me at the moment. I try to keep a lid on what might well be perceived as whining and complaining, because hey- how is that fun to read? At the same time, there is stuff going on that I need to be honest about. Because I do enough effing grinning and bearing it with my stiff upper lip all day without coming to my personal blog and pretending everything is great all the time.  
 
I regret if that rubs anyone up the wrong way. I just want you to know that no matter what, it is absolutely not my intention to belittle, or demean, or be insensitive to others, especially those who are in the middle of their own infertility difficulties. I'm truly sorry if anyone felt otherwise.

Next time: some good news, I promise!  And until then- I wish you all peace and a happy holidays.

The good things

I'm not feeling so great this evening, finding myself in a sad, droopy puddle in the bath after Botany went to bed. I'm sure I need time to grieve all the various losses accompanying the end of this relationship and all that malarkey. But frankly, the downward spiral of that particular whirlpool seems pretty overpowering, and I just don't want to go there yet.  So to lift the spirits, let's talk about something positive. Here's five good things to hold onto tonight.

1. When my life imploded, it just so happened that the cavalry were already on their way- and indeed, are here now lending a hand. A few days ago, my parents arrived for a four month long stay. They are being incredibly supportive and helpful and refraining from saying "I told you so". (Even though they did and goddamn it, they were right.)

2.  I cleared all the crap E. left behind out of his side of our closet, and this means I now have loads of space for all my stuff. I can finally unpack the boxes of clothes which have been sitting in the loft for the last year and lovingly stroke, fold and tidy my wardrobe into organisational oblivion. Bliss.

3. Even better, I've finally lost the last of the baby weight and I'm back into my pre-pregnancy clothes.  Thus, no need to rush out and buy the dreaded fat pants to wear to return to work next month. My svelte self shall be swanning back into the office in my size 4 suits, thank you very much. 

4. I made up the bed with clean, fresh sheets and pillowcases and my favourite duvet cover. I can read with the light on as late as I want, or turn it off whenever I get sleepy. When Botany wakes at 5am, there is plenty of space for the two of us to curl up, her little feet flexing in her footy pajamas and her mouth opening like a baby bird to nurse.

5.  The best gift I have ever been given is sleeping peacefully in the room across the hall. For really, how can I ever be completely unhappy when there is Botany in the world? I say her name and I imagine the rustle of summer, of green things growing, of a life awakening a little more every day.

What five things made you happy today?

Unravelling

By the time I got to the dentist last week, I was in agony from the pain in my mouth. Turns out I needed a root canal, which was scheduled for the next day. Unfortunately, in the space of 24 hours, I developed an abscess from hell in the soft tissues in my jaw; possibly the worst pain I have ever experienced. Even more unfortunately, the root canal treatment was unable to drain the abscess and so I was sent home with a packet of antibiotics and a dire warning that it might get worse before it got better. Which it did, reducing me to a rocking, weeping mess on the bathroom floor over the weekend. 

In the middle of all this fun, another major life crisis has descended. I guess the powers that be figured "in for a penny, in for a pound" and so decided to deal me the worst possible emotional blow of my life at the same time.    

To tell you the truth, I had actually been toying with wrapping up this blog. Sometimes it just seems that the final chapter has ended and it's time to close the book. With the end of Botany's first year in sight and my impending return to work, I was inclined to think maybe there were other places I might want to be putting my energy. I'm not sure I ever really found my groove as a mommy blogger- maybe because I wasn't sure that there was really anything in my experience that was all that unique or relevant or interesting (other than sleep. Everybody is always interested in sleep.) 

But now it seems that I am going to have to figure out how to be a single parent, at least for the immediate future. Not my choice- or at least, not in the way it's gone down. Sadly though, that's the reality I am facing. I know blogging is always a cathartic outlet for me, and so many of you have been so amazing and kind and supportive over the years that I want to continue. The only thing is, I'm not quite sure about is how much of that story I am comfortable sharing with the internets at large, particularly while I am in the middle of the immediate hot mess of my life unravelling before my eyes. So I need a little time to mull that one over, and I'll let you know when I am ready to pick up the thread again, and where it has taken my sweet Botany and me. 

Happy Steaming New Year

I have a terrible cold. It started out by setting up base camp in my lungs, then making a summit bid to my right middle ear before a disastrous avalance of mucus blocked off the escape route in my Eustachian tube. Having toodled my hacking and spluttering self down to the local pharmacy on Boxing Day to see what over the counter relief might be available to a breastfeeding mother, I was somewhat nonplussed to discover the answer is: none. No cough syrup, no decongestant. Nada.

You could try steam, the pharmicist advised merrily. Lots of steam! Happy holidays!

Great. Steam. So I gamely spent a day or so with my head over a pot of water on the hob, but with the ear pain getting steadily worse. Finally I made an appointment to see my GP, with my mother's dire mutterings of words like "bronchitis" and "pnuemonia" literally ringing in my ears. The doctor's view was: lungs not so bad, ear not so good. And while the relative severity could "go either way", he went ahead and prescribed antibiotics.

"You can hold off on taking these," he suggested, "to see if it gets worse. And try steam!"

Great. Steam. The pot of water technique was wearing a bit thin by this point, so I dispatched E. to buy a facial sauna, figuring I might be gacking up lurgy but I might as well have good skin while we're at it. Meanwhile, I decided that the whole "wait to see if it gets a lot worse" approach was sort of dumb, and started taking the antibiotics at once. Which is good because the alternate escape route in my left middle ear then suffered a similar landslide, making my whole head feel like an overstuffed sausage. What's worse is the nasty phlegmy cough- aside from the fact I can tell my hacking drives E. nuts, it is veritable torture trying to nurse down the baby for the night- and just as she has fallen asleep, having the sensation of having my lungs tickle tickle tickled with a feather duster and being unable to suppress the explosion. 

I need to go to bed for about a week and do nothing but lie in my jimjams, eating mangos and reading trashy magazines. But obviously, that is not going to happen. I'd settle at this point for a couple of nights of four hours of unbroken sleep but that's not looking like it's on the cards either. Botany's nap routine has mercifully settled back down (at least insofar as she has a nap albeit still only 45 minutes at a time). I guess it might have something to do with the fact that we don't really leave the house much at the moment. However, her night time sleep is still a little bit all over the place- usually waking up at 3 am, feed for half an hour and then awake again at 4.30 or 5am. Any nights of halfway decent sleep don't begin to make up for the exhaustion of the rest- and the result is I feel like I can't shake this cold monkey off my back.

Anyway. A year ago today I was puking my innards up on a ferry en route to France, so I suppose ringing in the new year with some sort of physical discomfort might just be an ongoing tradition. At least I am on solid ground this time, with a surfeit of holiday telly to numb the brain if not the pain.   

Happy 2008 everyone!

A little spell of blue

Brrrr..shivering in the sudden Arctic cold snap which has swept the country. Things had briefly seemed there as if we were heading for a mild and pleasant Spring, but now the grim hand of winter has yanked us all by our collars right back into chillyvilles.  As I trudge to work, I feel the icy blasts of wind even more acutely, since I am now too bumped-out to button my warm winter coat properly.

We were advised this weekend that our new house will probably now not be completed until sometime in May- our original move-in date was early April.  And we have to be out of the place we are in by the first week in May.  All of which makes me say: oh poo and merde.

Slippage with new build houses is inevitable, and I knew this from the outset- even started mentally planning ahead for what we would do in the event that we had an overlap between moving out of here and getting into the new place.  But now that I am confronted by the reality, it's come as more a bummer than I had anticipated.  There's absolutely nothing we can do about it- I don't know what it's like in the States, but when you sign the contract for a off-plan property here, the developers retains an insane amount of control over completion dates- in other words, they can finish whenever they like. In one case I know of, they were two years late.  That was exceptional, of course, and I don't think we are looking at anything like that sort of delay, especially since we know for a fact that at least the exterior is largely finished.  But it could be longer than we are currently expecting.  Either way, we are going to almost certainly have an overlap.  So this means everything we own will go into storage while we rent somewhere in the interim.

It's not the end of the world, but I confess I really wish we could just get in and get on with settling in. I mean, I have nesting to do! I have loads of baby crap to buy, for crying out loud!  Well. I've decided that if it drags on into summer, I am going to start wandering back and forth in front of the not yet finished house, clutching my belly and wailing like a fishwife.  Think that might spur the builders on?

Anyway, not to sound all moany-whingey but the combination of bad weather and the whole moving fandango and some ongoing irritants on the work front has conspired to bring on a small fit of the blues. I tell myself daily that in compensation for the apparent good fortune I have recently enjoyed, I am not allowed to feel bad about anything again, ever- and certainly not small trivialities like these. But in all honesty, I do admit to being just a trifle low. Or perhaps that is just hormones talking; I found myself having a little weep over a TV advert to raise funds in aid for abused animals the other day while simultaneously rolling my eyes at what a cliche that is.

Now, where are my mittens?

Snarly snarly

I don't know what's gotten into me lately, but I feel cranky, a continual bubbling underlay of rabid pissiness that won't quit.

Part of it is, I suspect, that I feel tired and overwhelmed a lot of the time. The dog, while still a delight in many ways, is currently driving us both crackers. He's entered that itchy teenage phase where he can be really, really hard work. He has lots of toys, gets plenty of exercise and attention, not to mention a regular routine that should give him some semblance of structure in his daily puppy life.  But it still seems like it's not enough. If I play with him for two hours when I get home, he wants four hours.  If I give him a chewy toy, he will discard it in moments to snack on the plants/table legs/my arm.  His favourite trick is feverishly scrabbling at the living room rug with his little claws. And God help you if you accidentally drop something- anything- in his vicinity- kiss it goodbye or else prepare for a tug with the jaws of death. Plus, the housebreaking (which I thought we had mastered) suddenly seems to be going in reverse, to my considerable dismay. He still quite often wakes me up in the middle of the night to go out, or at an ungodly hour in the morning, and consquently it feels like a long time since I have had an unbroken night's sleep.

I know he'll grow out of it, but some days he is very, very bad indeed. Bad. Baaaaad. Inevitably those are the days when I have been most stressed out at work and most under pressure to get things organised for moving house. And I catch sight of myself in the mirror with a sort of snarling bug-eyed frustrated look on my face. Then all I can think is: he's just a puppy- what would it be like if we had a baby as well?   

Aside from the dog, it seems like everything gets on my nerves.  For example, why can't the grocery store, with their much ballyhooed delivery service, get it right?  Every week I have to email them with a complaint. This week they charged me for nine tubs of butter rather than one. I know it's coming up for Christmas and all, but did it not cross the checker's mind to note that perhaps that much hydrogenated fat in one go was a little odd? The answer, of course, might be not to use the online service, but given we still don't have our shitheap of a car back (oh, don't get me started), it's just about the only way to get food into the house.   

Oh, and we're embarking on the second wave of women at my office who are just back from maternity leave but are already pregnant again. I don't know why this continues to bug the living crap out of me, but it does. At the rate we are going, every woman of childbearing age in my immediate vicinity will have completed a family unit of two or three kids before I even get around to deciding if we're going to do IVF again.

It's possible that some of the incessant grouchiness is due to a slight thyroid imbalance. I had my levels checked when having some other blood tests, and the doctor phoned me up to tell me that it appears I have slipped a bit too far the other way- that is, in the hyper rather than hypo mode. Odd, given that I've been on this dosage for well over a year now with no such effect. But on her instructions, I'm reducing the total dosage of meds for the time being to see if it lmoves back to the proper range.  But at this point I'd just like my buggy eyes to revert back into their sockets.    

As for the treatment thing- oh, nothing gets past you people, does it?  Let's just say we're still at the point of talking about it, albeit that includes discussing it with someone at an IVF clinic.  We have an appointment next week for a consultation- and then we'll see what they say. I'll wager next month's paypacket that it's something along the lines of, "Do IVF again if you want a baby."

Since it doesn't look like we'll have the car back from the garage, it will mean having to trudge to the other side of the country on Scottish public transport. No doubt will give me something else to whinge about it.

Week of Poo

Friends, it has been a Week of Poo, and for once I am talking literally and not metaphorically.  I figure this being a (primarily) infertility blog, y'all are quite comfy with talk of more a graphic nature and don't quiver and throw up yer dainty hands in horror at the mention of certain bodily functions. I mean, once you've discussed the finer points of your uterus with the Internets at large, I reckon a little chat about poo is not going to upset anyone.  Right?  Right.  Read on.

It began with a jolly walk in the park with Little Guy. I was a bit frazzled after a long day at work, and looking forward to burning off some steam romping in the park with the tiny puppy. Rompity romp romp. As we merrily scampered headlong toward the direction of the Scary Swan Pond (aieeee! Swan rage!), I felt a sharp *thwock* at the back of my head.  I paused.  E. and LG carried on apace, while I paused to  collect myself in the manner of "thefuckwasthat?"

I confess I momentarily blamed the blow to the head on the group of loitering tracksuit ambassadors ahead of us on the path. Until logic reasserted itself- as in , they are ahead of us and I have been whomped on the back of the head, Q.E.D.  Reaching up to assess the damage, my hand came away all sticky and covered in oobleck.  Of the bird poo variety. A bird had crapped all over my head. Yeah, I've heard it's good luck. To which I say, sure, you bet. It's also sticky, nasty and frankly, unpleasant.  Gee thanks, Jonathan Livingston Seagull!

Far from being good luck, I think it was actually a dark portend of things to come. Two days later, after eating nothing particularly out of the ordinary, I began to experience some rather weird gastro-intestinal phenomenon. It goes something like this: I eat food, and then about four hours later I am doubled over in crippling pain, with an almighty wind blowing through the toilet area and the passing of sound and fury. It's all wrong, wrong, wrong.

Unfortunately, it's one of those situations where I don't feel quite unwell enough for long enough periods of time to really justify staying home from work. I mean, the couple hours in between the eating and the horror are generally OK.  However, on the whole, it's become quite wearing.  Experiencing sudden urgent energy-sapping bouts of discomfort is one thing- but having to go through it in one of the office toilet cubicles?  Disaster. I can usually make it to the one private stand-alone loos down the hall, but there has been more than one occasion when I found myself trapped in the main bathroom, a steady stream of traffic coming in and out the neighbouring stall.  Cue knuckle-biting, sphinter-clenching agony while I tried to restrain the blaring of the foghorns until I am alone. 

And then of course, there is the issue of dealing with a still-not-quite-housebroken puppy. When I get home from work, I've managed to hold it together long enough to take him outside to do his busybusy before I sprint for the bog to deal with my own gastro-trauma. But inevitably, he wants to hang out with me, playplayplay, chewychewy on everything, notwithstanding the fact I am trapped on the toilet, Trying. to. Cope. with. Unspeakable. Emissions.  Plus, the other night it was absolutely pouring it down with rain, and he refused to do anything outside, other than huddle under the umbrella with me, whining and pawing the door. Finally, I couldn't wait any longer, so we came in, and while I was otherwise engaged, he snuck off and pooped, massively, in the corner of the hall.  Poo-o-rama. CIearly I am an idiot for not putting him staight back into his crate but at the time, my priorities were, uh, elsewhere.

On the upside, E. has more pro-active with puppy duty this weekend, leaving me free to lock myself in the bathroom in relative peace & privacy whenever the need comes upon me.  Also, the affliction shows signs of ceasing any time soon; failing which l will go see the doctor as soon as possible. Huh. That should add a little sparkle and colour to my burgeoning medical notes-rounding things out, as it were. 

Equations of healing

To demonstrate what a "changed" person I've become, I met my pregnant friend for a drink the other night. Well, I had a "drink" in the sense of the alcoholic beverage while she sipped a dainty ginger beer. But since the no-smoking ban came into force in Scotland, there is really no excuse for knocked up women to avoid the pub/bar. This is great for those of us who want to ease the discomfort of such social engagements with a double vodka.  Works for everyone. 

The last time I saw this friend was in October at a party. There we both enjoyed a number of "drinks" in the alcoholic sense, and I didn't get home until 5am. Unheard of for me, but delightful all the same. During the festivities, she confessed over a couple of glasses of wine, she and her husband were "trying". Oh, I said, I can give you lots of tips. Or, at least theoretical tips, since as we know, not a single one worked for me.

As it turns out, my little pearls of conception wisdom were not needed, because she must have already been a couple of weeks along by that point.  The next I heard from her she was going for her scan, just before Christmas.

Just like that. So simple, isn't it, for some.  You want a baby, you have sex with your partner, and hey presto. The thing is, this friend is one of those people who always seems to effortlessly achieve whatever she wants; great job, great house, great man.  I wasn't in the least surprised that the baby came along, on schedule, as intended, exactly at the right time.

I've known this woman a long time. We went to university together, she shared my flat for about six months, we danced at her wedding. I like her; she is kind, funny, bright and beautiful. And I knew that unless I could bring myself to make some gesture now to acknowledge, indeed to embrace and celebrate her pregnancy, then I wasn't putting my money where my mouth is as far as getting over this whole infertile-bitter thing.  Or for that matter, being much of a good friend.

So I emailed her, arranged to meet her.  They don't go in for baby showers here, and this was my only opportunity to give her something for the impending arrival. And as it happens, I had something to hand. Because, you see, when you are learning to knit, baby things are quite easy to churn out- small, not too time consuming or soul-destroying when you fuck up and have to frog the whole project.  I had whipped up a little hat and matching booties with some lovely yarn that Anna H. had sent me for my birthday.  Cute baby gear sitting at the bottom of my knitting bag, going nowhere.

I fished it out, and wrapped it in some nice paper. As I did so, I came over all funny. I found myself clutching the hat in my hand, unwilling to let it go. Come on, I told myself, reaching for the tape, get over it.  Get over it get over it getoveritgetoverit.  It's just stuff.  You can always knit another set if you ever have a kid. Oh wait, right, you're not going to. But if you do. If you did. If... Oh shut up and stick the package in your handbag.   

I was early, as always, and standing outside the bar was afforded an excellent view of her bump (surprisingly pert, considering she is eight months along) as she walked down the road toward me.  As she approached, I suddenly had the old horror.  Shit, I thought.  This was a really, really bad idea.

We had a nice enough time, I suppose. She was pleased and touched with the present, which made me feel a little better about being able to give it. And the talk was fairly evenly balanced for the most part (my tales of woe over the last months versus antenatal classes. Career ambitions verses decorating the nursery). As I left, I congratulated myself for not once revealing there were moments when sitting there with her felt exactly like a hot poker was being driven through my heart.

I walked home feeling troubled.  Guess I haven't changed so much, after all.  Guess there are certain days and certain spaces when this is still so very hard. But the worst thing was the mental battering I gave myself for days afterward for not being over it yet, for not being all OK about it, for not being able to effortlessly celebrate my friend's seemingly effortlessly obtained happiness. I went out and asked the slowly budding bay tree: how long is it going to take?  How much longer until I can honestly, truly say it doesn't bother me anymore? What if I can never say it? 

What I realised today was this:  the amount of time it will take for me to feel better about not being able to get pregnant and have children is directly proportionate to the amount of time it will take for me to start feeling better about the life I have, or can have.

Such a simple equation, and yet so very hard to calculate.

Dragged backwards

Oh yikes, I am crankalicious. Chalk it up to hormones, boredom, or the unceasing grim, grubby weather; my former good mood is somewhat squelched. Instead it seems I must contend with a long series of grumpy-making events. And where better than to have a right good whinge but in my pajamas and furry slippers in front of the internets.

Firstly there are the minor annoyances- not one but two buttons on my coat suddenly came off during yesterday’s walk, leaving my delicate flesh at the mercy of the biting wind, and looking sloppy besides. The prices in my favourite lunch place were raised today, and my carefully calculated change was not
enough. How dare they? Despite a futile scrabble in my wallet for additional change, I had to beg the extra 7p off my companion.

After which I managed to dump half my coffee down my front. Huzzah.

Then there is the recent electricity bill. Oh, I wish to weep. It would seem that for the past year or so we have been somehow underpaying. The reckoning is a vast, ghastly invoice. I am now completely horrified at how much it is costing to heat our flat, and spent the weekend running around after E. turning off all the lights in his wake.

Also, can I just say: South Dakota. Um, what the fucking fuck is going on?

Then there is my grand plan, which has hit a minor snag. I shall almost certainly find a way around the problem, but to go my desired route will now entail a certain amount of extra work- writing letters, compiling various documents, firing off pleading emails into the void. Needless to say, I am good at this sort of palaver, but it’s tiresome. The only bright side is that I have found an ally, a friend of mine who is
also interested in doing this…thing. Together we have vowed to scale the barricades and make it work. Viva Project Possibly Possible!

Even with all this moving on, there is still the occasional sullen backwards stumble. Today, for instance, I spied yet another colleague sporting a modest bump. My eyes bugged out, since I had had a ten minute conversation with her last week and had noticed nothing. She was standing in the corridor talking to someone else, and I actually made a round-about detour so I could get a second covert look- was it really a bump or was she just having a bad posture/wardrobe day? Mmm, definitely looks like a bump.

Cue plunge into sudden, abject depression. With possibly one or two exceptions, every female under 40 working in my immediate vicinity has gotten pregnant at least once or twice in the last couple years. The parade of pregnancy is unceasing. Every time I believe the torment is finally finished, a new one springs out of the woodwork. And every time, I have the same urge to run screaming out of the office, rendered.

Which sometimes makes me think that, all the good plans aside, I may never really shake off this sadness completely. That time will never be a complete healer on this one. With all my best intentions, I still find myself feeling like a freak, the odd one out, the one that is always left behind, the only one who can’t do this. The only one who can’t have this.